Genome-Wide Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions and Involvement of Viral Proteins in SARS-CoV Replication

Analyses of viral protein-protein interactions are an important step to understand viral protein functions and their underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, we adopted a mammalian two-hybrid system to screen the genome-wide intraviral protein-protein interactions of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and therefrom revealed a number of novel interactions which could be partly confirmed by in vitro biochemical assays. Three pairs of the interactions identified were detected in both directions: non-structural protein (nsp) 10 and nsp14, nsp10 and nsp16, and nsp7 and nsp8. The interactions between the multifunctional nsp10 and nsp14 or nsp16, which are the unique proteins found in the members of Nidovirales with large RNA genomes including coronaviruses and toroviruses, may have important implication for the mechanisms of replication/transcription complex assembly and functions of these viruses. Using a SARS-CoV replicon expressing a luciferase reporter under the control of a transcription regulating sequence, it has been shown that several viral proteins (N, X and SUD domains of nsp3, and nsp12) provided in trans stimulated the replicon reporter activity, indicating that these proteins may regulate coronavirus replication and transcription. Collectively, our findings provide a basis and platform for further characterization of the functions and mechanisms of coronavirus proteins

Tanshinone IIA protects motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells against lipopolysaccharide-induced cell injury by the regulation of the lncRNA TCTN2/miR-125a-5p/DUSP1 axis

Background: Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) exerts a protective role in spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the mechanism of TSIIA activity in SCI remains to be elucidated. Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were gauged by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression levels of lncRNA TCTN2, miR-125a-5p and DUSP1 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Direct relationship between miR-125a-5p and TCTN2 or DUSP1 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: In mouse NSC-34 cells, LPS reduced the expression of TCTN2. TSIIA alleviated cell injury induced by LPS and increased TCTN2 expression in LPS-exposed NSC-34 cells. TCTN2 was a downstream mediator of TSIIA activity. TCTN2 targeted miR-125a-5p, and TCTN2 over-expression attenuated LPS-induced cell damage in NSC-34 cells by down-regulating miR-125a-5p. TCTN2 functioned as a post-transcriptional regulator of DUSP1 expression through miR-125a-5p. DUSP1 was a functional target of miR-125a-5p in controlling NSC-34 cell injury induced by LPS. TSIIA inhibited miR-125a-5p expression and increased the level of DUSP1 protein in LPS-exposed NSC-34 cells. Conclusion: Our study establishes a novel mechanism, the TCTN2/miR-125a-5p/DUSP1 axis, at least in part, for the protective activity of TSIIA in cell injury induced by LPS

Preparation and environmental toxicity of non-sintered ceramsite using coal gasification coarse slag

In this study, non-sintered ceramsite was prepared using coal gasification coarse slag obtained from a methanol plant. The basic performance and heavy metal leaching toxicity were analyzed. The results showed that seven out of nine non-sintered ceramsite groups were in accordance with the national standard of compressive strength (5 MPa), while only three groups met the national standard of water absorption index of less than 22%. The heavy metal concentrations in these three groups were found to be lower than that specified in National Class IV of surface water environment standards. The concentration of Cr was found to be 16.45 μg/L, which represents only 1% of the IV standard. The optimum mixing ratio, which showed high compressive strength (6.76 MPa) and low water absorption (20.12%), was found to be 73% coal gasification coarse slag, 15% cement, and 12% quartz sand. The characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the formation of gelatin in ceramsite enhances the performance of the ceramsite base and increases the immobilization of heavy metal. The study proved that the preparation of non-sintered ceramsite using coal gasification coarse slag reduces its environmental risk and achieves efficient utilization of the slag. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is a feasible and environmental friendly method for the disposal of coal slag

Enhancement of Degradation and Dechlorination of Trichloroethylene via Supporting Palladium/Iron Bimetallic Nanoparticles onto Mesoporous Silica

This study is aimed to prevent the agglomeration of Pd/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles and thus improve the efficiency toward degradation and dechlorination of chlorinated organic contaminants. A mesoporous silica with a primary pore diameter of 8.3 nm and a specific surface area of 688 m2/g was prepared and used as the host of Pd/Fe nanoparticles. The Pd/Fe nanoparticles were deposited onto or into the mesoporous silica by reduction of ferrous ion and hexachloropalladate ion in aqueous phase. Batch degradation and dechlorination reactions of trichloroethylene were conducted with initial trichloroethylene concentration of 23.7 mg/L, iron loading of 203 or 1.91 × 103 mg/L and silica loading of 8.10 g/L at 25 °C. Concentration of trichloroethylene occurs on the supported Pd/Fe nanoparticles, with trichloroethylene degrading to 56% and 59% in 30 min on the supported Pd/Fe nanoparticles with weight percentage of palladium to iron at 0.075% and 0.10% respectively. The supported Pd/Fe nanoparticles exhibit better dechlorination activity. When the supported Pd/Fe nanoparticles with a weight percentage of palladium to iron of 0.10% were loaded much less than the bare counterpart, the yield of ethylene plus ethane in 10 h on them was comparable, i.e., 19% vs. 21%. This study offers a future approach to efficiently combine the reactivity of supported Pd/Fe nanoparticles and the adsorption ability of mesoporous silica

Additional file 2: of Meta-analysis of the safety of voriconazole in definitive, empirical, and prophylactic therapies for invasive fungal infections

Sensitive analysis and the funnel plots under the five outcomes. The sensitive analysis part included the influence of individual study involved in the evaluation of tolerability, neurotoxicity, visual toxicity, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity (see in Figure S1-S5). (PDF 433 kb

Le Courrier

20 octobre 18271827/10/20 (A0,N293)